Product Specialist

What you do

If you are in the position of project manager in the project management stream, you will be responsible for the overall coordination of systems development and/or implementation for major applications.

Who you do it for

Project manager positions can be found throughout both the private and public sectors. Positions can also be found in consulting firms which contract out project managers.

How you do it

Depending on the project, in your job as a project manager you will be involved in planning and directing project resources. To do this, you will be involved with a project from the beginning to the end. Generally, you are responsible for ensuring:

• the informatics project delivers what it is supposed to,
• the project is proceeding as budgeted,
• the project is on time, and
• the staffing of positions is effective.

In other words, you are responsible for the whole systems development or implementation of the project. In your job as project manager, you will be expected to know what is happening with the project at any moment in time. You are also responsible for most of the decisions associated with the project.

Challenges

The major challenges you will face as a project manager will deal with ensuring that the project is delivered as promised and does not run over-budget or late. In addition, you will have to deal with a lot of different personalities. At points, the job can prove to be extremely challenging and stressful.

Working Conditions

Expectations at the management level are different and overtime in many organizations is considered part of the job. As a project manager, you will be expected to ensure your project meets deadlines, and to do this, you may work a significant amount of overtime.

Most project managers work in comfortable offices. Opportunities exist for self employment and contract work.

Like other workers who spend their time in front of a computer terminal, project managers are susceptible to eyestrain, back discomfort and hand and wrist problems.

The overall growth prospects for project management positions are expected to remain high. Opportunities will exist for individuals who have good project management skills and a strong business acumen with a background in IT.